The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-11-05
Look at the Record.
Ero1n the Hnrtard Demncrnt.

From the Hartford Democrat.
The Republicans of this State have fought
under cover and shot from behind s'Fusion. !"
''Independent" and Reform parties 50
long that we are glad 10 see them come out
into the open field under their own colors.
When last they were in power here, they
acquired it by force Of free display of Fed
eral bayonets, and they maintained it by
system of prescriptions which Invested many
thousands Of our citizens of the right to vote.
The restrictions they imposed and the vindic-
tivencss they manifested cannot be forgotten.
For several years after the war no man dared
to question their right to rule or to criticize
their actions or those of the party to which
they belonged. If we recall for moment the
bitterness of those days and the oppression
under which our people suffered the contrast
between the conduct of the Democrats and
Conservatives, when they obtained once more
their rightful control of the Government, and
and that of the Republicans they unseated,
shows with what consideration the latter were
treated, notwithstanding the wrongs they had
perpetrated during their term of usurred au-
thority from 1861 to 1867.
At the Republican State Convention Mr..
Cowen and other Republican orators besought
u to let bygones be bygones. And yet Mr..
Hodson, Mr.. McComas and other shining
lights in that convention appealed to their
hearers ito turn to the days Of Thomas Hol-
liday Hicks and Henry Winter Davis and
protested that they were ready to stand or
fall by the record of their party. Is there
| anything in our remembrance of the way in
which we were dealt with by the Republicans
few years ago, that would lead us to well
come their return to power? Their record is
record of agitation, Of higher law, of a solid
North, of sectional President, of civil war,
af., xyfoiofad oft he q
liberty, of proseriptive oaths, of debt, of pam
les, of business prostration and bankruptcy
and finally in the Centennial year they perpe-
trated the Centennial crime of DISTINGUISHING
&C, O00,0 900 of people. They talk about fraud.
ulent elections, but have not word to say
about the repeaters who voted in 1876 in the
names of Louisiana, Florida and South Car
DINA.
The nature of the Republican party is not
changed What it did in those days it will do
again if it has the opportunity. The Repub-
licans would fill-as it would be their priv.
| lege to do-all the State offices with their
creatures. They would seat Republican
judges on the bench; they would adopt new
constitution and pass laws, as they did before,
to fortify themselves in their position; they
would turn over the charge of our public
schools to Republican school commissioners
they would favor mixed schools; carpet bag
gers-those pests of the South-wouid hold
State offices; would be chosen to misrepresen
Maryland in the Legislature and in the Fed
eral Congress, and with their predacious hab
its, would not fail to profit by their opportu
mites; they would increase by many millions
of dollars the State debt, and thrive on bribery
and corruption.
Are we prepared for these things? Are we
ready to return to the old days of Radical
misrule and persecution, or to see the rights
of the State and of the people trampled under
foot by Republican Administration, as they
would be if the Republicans were permitted
to gain the ascendancy in this county and
State? If we are, then we have become de
generate indeed. If we are not, let every
man who desires that we shall be relieved
from even the possibility of such condition
of affairs, see that he does all that lies legti-
mately within his power to rescue the State
from the danger that is impending over her.